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The B.C. Lions will have at least one more quarterback in camp next week, when CFL teams are permitted to expand their practice rosters from seven to 12 players for a one-month period.

That will make a total of four — Travis Lulay, Mike Reilly, Thomas DeMarco and newcomer Casey Therriault who, just a few months ago was a successful novelty act at Jackson State, the historically black college in Mississippi that graduated Walter Payton, Lem Barney and Jackie Slater to the NFL.

Therriault was easy to pick out at Jackson State: He was a white kid from Michigan who landed in the Deep South, at a black college, because other schools shunned a quarterback who had done time.

He was 18, home from College of the Sequoias, a California junior college, on Christmas break, when Therriault was caught up in a ruckus with some friends outside a nightclub, in his hometown of Grand Rapids, Mich. The drunk threw a punch at him, Therriault retaliated and dropped the individual with the only blow he delivered.

But others in his group joined in, piling on the victim, Jonathan Krystiniak, who later died of his injuries.

Though Therriault was the least culpable, he faced a charge of manslaughter and did six months in county jail.

“The plea was sealed, he has no existing criminal record, “ said Therriault’s agent, JR Rickert of Albany, N.Y. “Casey’s story is well known in the States, but this may be new to football fans up there (Canada). He is absolutely no threat in any way, shape or form to Canada. There are no issues with him crossing the border. We’re looking for a forum in which he can launch his pro career.”

That could have happened in June, when the Lions intended to bring in Therriault for a look at rookie camp in Kamloops. The process of obtaining a passport dragged on, however, and the Lions moved on without him, nominating DeMarco, a rookie from Old Dominion, as their third-string quarterback.

“It was one of those deals where we were aware that stories were being written about him, the rumour mill was working, but it never happened,” said Reilly, the Lions’ No. 2 quarterback. “But this is the time of year when guys’ arms are starting to get tired. We’ve been grinding for a few months now. It’s always nice to have another guy come in and throw some routes. It’s nice just to have an extra body.”

Indeed, Reilly said this is the first time in his three seasons with the Lions that the team hasn’t gone with four quarterbacks in practice. Two years ago, he was the No. 4 man. Last year, it was Corey Leonard, who was released after just one week of training camp this year.

“I don’t think there are any negatives about bringing in a fourth guy,” Reilly said. “He’s going to step up the competition level, which is great. And he’ll be fresh, which is also great.”

Known as the “White Tiger” at Jackson State, Therriault’s story, of a young man being in the wrong place at the wrong time, then finding redemption and being embraced at a black college, was featured last November on ESPN’s E:60 sports documentary series.

He is four years removed from the incident that changed a number of young lives in Michigan but aware that it will, inevitably, be revisited by the sports media in a new country.

“He’s done a great job of turning the page,” Rickert said. “But people will look at that charge written on paper: manslaughter. It’s hard for some to get past that. I don’t see it as a factor, but I understand why some people saw it as a factor: coaches, front office people. But I see him as one of the true hidden talents out there.”

That opinion is seconded by his college coach at Jackson State, Rick Comegy, who recruited him after Therriault quarterbacked Grand Rapids Community College to a national junior championship.

“It starts with his arm, and his leadership,” Comegy explained. “But never, in all my years, have I seen a quarterback do things with his legs as Casey does. He came in as a third-string quarterback, and it was soon apparent that he was exceptionally smart at reading coverages. Even when he became No. 1, he was always teaching other guys. Everybody here fell in love with him. As someone said, he brought sunshine to Jackson. He’s an exceptional young man with strong family support behind him. You’ll see for yourselves, up there, he’s a winner. And if that doesn’t come true, my name is not Rick Comegy.”

Jackson State didn’t care about his shading or his past when Therriault was throwing TD passes and winning games. If he can do the same here, it’s safe to assume Lions fans won’t either.

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B.C. Lions improve depth at quarterback by calling the White Tiger's number

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